Apparatus and method for relieving motion sickness

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus used for relieving motion sickness, wherein a sensor senses a motion of an object and a sensory converter coupled to the sensor and converts the sensed motion to corresponding sensory signals for presentation to a user. The sensory signals include audio signals, display signals, white noise signals, pink noise signals, brown noise signals, and audio tone signals The audio signals, white noise signals, pink noise signals, and brown noise sensory signals have a variation in spectral emphasis in proportion to the sensed motion, such as by varying a bandwidth, a center frequency, and an amplitude of a first range of the sensory signals. The display signals have a variation in a display characteristic and the audio tone signals have a variation in time intervals between successive audio tones. The audio tones may also include audio messages containing words. The sensory signals are used to resolve a conflict between vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs of the user, thus relieving motion sickness.

CROSS-REFERENCE

1. This application is related to application Ser. No. 09/121,720, filedon Jul. 24, 1998, which is incorporated in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

2. 1. Field of the Invention

3. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for relievingmotion sickness. More particularly, the present invention is related toproviding individual sensory signals that correspond to the motion of acraft, or in another aspect, proximity of potential obstacles, so thatthe individual may use these signals to improve a sense of equilibriumor to avoid collision with the obstacles.

4. 2. Discussion of the Background

5. Essentially, motion sickness occurs as a result of an unusual motionexperience. When a person is unable to predict or anticipate thisunusual motion, the person's equilibrium may be effected. The phenomenonof motion sickness may be derived from a principle researched by Dr.David Winters, a retired University of Waterloo professor, and which isreferred to as “The Principle of Indeterminacy.”

6. The principle of indeterminacy describes a human's natural ability toidentify changes in the neuromuscular skeletal system and to adapt to anew optimum motion. For example, if a prosthetic leg does not offercomparable function, an amputee will favor the remaining leg. Thus, theresidual limb becomes weaker and the remaining leg becomes stronger. Theoption to utilize the prosthesis or the natural leg represents aconflict, i.e., between walking in a conventional symmetrical manner orfavoring the natural leg. The person, without conscious volition,chooses favoring the natural side when the choice is perceived by thehuman's body as optimal. Currently, it is not known for certain whichsenses are most influential in making this choice. However, it is likelythat pain and comfort, proprioceptive, vestibular, and ocular inputsaffect this choice.

7. Similarly, motion sickness results from a conflict between thesevestibular, ocular and proprioceptive inputs. For example, conventionalwisdom among charter boat operators is that charter boat captains do notget seasick, unless they spend a significant amount of time below deck,whereas captains of cruise ships are known to be somewhat moresusceptible to motion sickness. This is because a charter boat captainusually sits high in the cabin, a position from where he can observequite clearly what the relatively small charter boat is about toexperience. Thus, he has accurate visual data which reconciles aconflict between the vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs. Onthe contrary, the captain of a large cruise ship cannot see what istaking place immediately in front of the ship's bow. Thus, a conflictbetween the vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive data is not resolved.

8. Motion sickness is very costly for many industries. For example, theairline industry loses millions of dollars per year from passengers whoare unwilling to travel because they experience motion sickness. Thesame can be said for cruise ships. In addition, if a person experiencesmotion sickness while operating a dangerous vehicle, injury or even aloss of life may occur.

9. Thus, a need for a device which relieves or prevents motion sicknesswill have a significant impact on society. One proposed motion sicknessdevice is that described in Ferguson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,196). Fergusondiscloses positioning an array of sound emitters at the sides of anenclosure and varying the sound levels from selected emitters inresponse to changes in the enclosure's movement. To an individual, thesound source is not perceived as rolling with the vehicle but rather isinertially stable while the vehicle rolls relative to the sound source.That is, Ferguson is directed to creating an artificial sound horizonwhich is acoustically perceivable to the individual and continuouslymaintaining the sound horizon substantially positionally stationary withreference to a fixed horizon of the enclosure.

10. However, one problem with Ferguson is that an artificial soundhorizon is created. This artificial sound horizon (i.e., between soundemitters at opposite sides of the enclosure) may cause an individual toexperience further motion sickness because a conflict is created betweenthe vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs and the artificialsound horizon. Further, another problem with Ferguson is that an arrayof sound emitters (e.g., speakers) placed at specific locations chosenin accordance with a predicted motion of the enclosure are required.That is, the speakers are required to be located in opposite sides ofthe enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

11. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide anovel apparatus and method for relieving motion sickness.

12. Another object of the present invention is to relieve motionsickness by presenting a user with at least one sensory signal includingan audio signal, a white noise signal, a pink noise signal, a brownnoise signal, a popcorn noise signal, or combinations thereof which havea variation in spectral emphasis in proportion to a sensed motion of anobject, so that the user may resolve a conflict between vestibular,ocular, and proprioceptive inputs. The variation in spectral emphasisincludes, for example, a variation in a bandwidth, a center frequency,and an amplitude of a first range of the sensory signals. Further, thesensory signals may also include display signals presented on a display.The display signals may be presented on the display as display elementshaving, for example, a shape, a size, an intensity, and a color. Forexample, the display elements may include a blue square, red circle,green star, etc. In addition, the display elements may have a variationin a display characteristic, such as a variation in a size, a shape, anintensity, and a color of the display elements. The variation in displaycharacteristic is based on the sensed motion of the object. In addition,the sensory signals may include audio tone signals which have avariation in time intervals between successive tone signals. Thevariation in time intervals is based on the sensed motion of the object.

13. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a devicefor assisting an individual which suffers from a severe vestibularimbalance by presenting this individual with audio, white noise, pinknoise, brown noise or audio tone sensory signals corresponding to asensed motion of the individual. White noise is a random noisecontaining all frequencies and sounds similar to the “hiss” noisegenerated by an FM radio receiver when tuned off station. That is, whitenoise is a random noise that has a flat frequency spectrum at thefrequency range of interest. In addition, pink, brown or popcorn noisesignals may also be used. Pink noise is a random noise whose spectrumlevel has a negative slope of 10 decibels per decade (i.e., any noisewith a power spectrum that falls as a power spectrum of 1/f), and brownnoise has a power spectrum of 1/f². The name “brown noise” comes fromBrownian motion, which is the random motion of small objects in fluids.Ordinary music tends to have a brown power spectrum, whereas white noisetends to sound noisy or busy, and pink noise sounds overly simple.Popcorn noise includes individual events whose magnitude distributiondoes not have a maximum at zero and is not even symmetric about zero.Popcorn noise includes isolated spikes in the output voltage and thevoltage height of spikes has a mean value that is significantly (i.e.,by more than a mV) different from zero. The audio tone signals includetone signals separated by time intervals (spaces).

14. Still another object of the invention is to provide a device forassisting a blind individual by presenting the individual with audio,white noise, pink noise, brown noise, popcorn noise signals, audio tonesignals or some combination thereof, along with a proximity sensorysignal to assist the individual in determining their relative positionto other objects.

15. These and other objects of the present invention are achieved byproviding an apparatus which includes a sensor which senses a motion ofan object and a sensory converter which converts the sensed motion tocorresponding sensory signals. In addition, the sensory signals arepresented to a user by using, for example, a transmitter and receiver.Thus, the user receives the sensory signals and is able to resolve aconflict between vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs via theprinciple of indeterminancy. The sensory signals may be any one ofaudio, white noise, pink noise, brown noise, popcorn noise, displaysignals, audio tones, or any combination thereof. The audio, whitenoise, pink noise, brown noise and popcorn noise sensory signals have avariation in a spectral emphasis in proportion to the sensed motion. Inthe case of audio signals, the variation in spectral emphasis includesvarying a frequency of, for example, a first signal within a firstpredetermined range around a first center frequency in proportion to asensed pitching motion of the object. For the case of white noise, pinknoise, brown noise, and popcorn noise signals, the variation in spectralemphasis includes varying, for example, a first frequency range of thenoise signals in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of the object.However, in all cases for audio, white noise, pink noise, brown noiseand popcorn noise signals, the variation in spectral emphasis mayinclude, but is not limited to, a variation in a bandwidth, a centerfrequency, and an amplitude of first range of the sensory signals. Inaddition, the display signals may be presented on a display as displayelements which vary in a display characteristic based on the sensedmotion of the object. The variation in display characteristic includes avariation in, for example, a shape, a size, a color, and an intensity ofthe display element. In the case of audio tone signals, the audio tonesignals may have a variation in time intervals between successive audiotones based on the sensed motion of the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

16. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

17.FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for relieving motionsickness according to the present invention;

18.FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the components of an inertiaprocessor device according to the present invention;

19.FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional axis with respect to theinertia processor according to the present invention;

20.FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating frequencies of audio signalscorresponding to vertical, yaw, and pitch motions sensed by the inertiaprocessor shown in FIG. 3;

21.FIG. 4B is another graph illustrating frequencies of audio signalscorresponding to vertical, yaw, and pitch motions sensed by the inertiaprocessor shown in FIG. 3;

22.FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating frequency ranges of a white noisesignal corresponding to vertical, yaw and pitch motions sensed by theinertia processor shown in FIG. 3;

23.FIG. 5B is another graph illustrating frequency ranges of a whitenoise signal corresponding to vertical, yaw and pitch motions sensed bythe inertia processor shown in FIG. 3;

24.FIG. 5C is yet another graph illustrating frequency ranges of a whitenoise signal corresponding to vertical, yaw and pitch motions sensed bythe inertia processor shown in FIG. 3;

25.FIG. 5D is still another graph illustrating frequency ranges of awhite noise signal corresponding to vertical, yaw and pitch motionssensed by the inertia processor shown in FIG. 3;

26.FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the motion sickness apparatus usedaboard a ship;

27.FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the motion sickness apparatusattached to an individual;

28.FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the motion sickness apparatusincluded in a headphone;

29.FIG. 9 is yet another perspective view of the motion sickness deviceused to project a display signal including display elements on adisplay;

30.FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the motion sickness deviceused to assist an eyesight impaired individual;

31.FIG. 11A is a graph illustrating audio tone signals corresponding toa vertical motion sensed by the inertia processor shown in FIG. 3;

32.FIG. 11B is another graph illustrating audio tone signalscorresponding to a yaw motion sensed by the inertia processor shown inFIG. 3; and

33.FIG. 11C is yet another graph illustrating sensory signalscorresponding to a pitch motion sensed by the inertia processor shown inFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

34. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsdesignate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated anapparatus for relieving motion sickness including an inertia processor 2connected to an external battery 18 and a transmitter 30. Also shown isa receiver 44 attached to an individual 42 for receiving a sensorysignal 33 transmitted by the transmitter 30. The inertia processor 2includes a front panel 3 which houses an audio volume control mechanism4, a video control mechanism 5, a white, pink, brown or popcorn noisevolume control mechanism 6, a pitch (x-axis) sensitivity controlmechanism 8, a yaw (y-axis) sensitivity control mechanism 10, and avertical (z-axis) sensitivity control mechanism 12. The inertiaprocessor also includes an appropriate bandpass filter (now shown) toachieve a desired bandwidth of the sensory signals.

35. The audio volume mechanism 4 and the white, pink, brown or popcornnoise volume mechanism 6 may be used to adjust the volume of the sensorysignal 33 transmitted by the transmitter 30. The pitch sensitivitymechanism 8, the yaw sensitivity mechanism 10, and the verticalsensitivity mechanism 12 may be used to adjust the correspondingsensitivity of the inertia processor 2. That is, using these sensitivitymechanisms, a user may set the inertia processor 2 to be more or lesssensitive in sensing a motion of an object. Also included in the frontpanel 3 is an LED power indicator 14 which indicates whether the poweris on or off. For example, if the power is on, the LED indicator 14 willbe a green color. On a side portion of the inertia processor 2 is apower switch 16 used to turn on and off the inertia processor 2. Theinertia processor 2 also includes three RCA autojacks on a rear side ofthe instrument (not shown) which provide high impedance, low leveloutput for audio, video, white noise, pink noise, brown noise, popcornnoise and audio tone signals.

36. The battery 18 includes a negative battery terminal 20 and apositive battery terminal 22 which connect to the inertia processor 2via battery wires 24 and 26. In addition, the inertia processor 2 isconnected to the transmitter 30 using a communication cable 28.Alternatively, the inertia processor 2 may be optically connected (e.g.,using infrared signals) to the transmitter 30. The transmitter 30includes an antenna 32, a power switch 34, and a power LED indicator 36.Also included is, for example, a multichannel control mechanism 38 and avolume control mechanism 40.

37. The control mechanisms (e.g., volume control mechanisms 4 and 6) arenot limited to the locations shown in FIG. 1. For example, the volumecontrol mechanisms 4 and 6 may be placed on a side or top portion of theinertia processor 2. Further, the battery 18, inertia processor 2,transmitter 30, and receiver 44 may be included in a single commonhousing.

38. The inertia processor 2 may be mounted or placed on a level(normally level) surface of an object. The inertia processor 2 senses amotion of the object and converts this motion to corresponding sensorysignals for presentation to a user. The audio, white noise, pink noise,brown noise, and popcorn noise sensory signals have a variation inspectral emphasis in proportion to the sensed motion. The variation inspectral emphasis includes, but is not limited to, a variation in abandwidth, a center frequency, and an amplitude of a first range of thesensory signals. For example, if the inertia processor 2 is configuredto operate using audio signals, i.e., by connecting the audio outputjack of the inertia processor 2 to the transmitter 30, the variation inspectral emphasis includes varying a frequency of, for example, a firstsignal within a first predetermined range around a first centerfrequency in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of the object.Alternatively, if the inertia processor 2 is configured to operate usingwhite, pink, brown or popcorn noise signals, the variation in spectralemphasis includes varying, for example, a first frequency range of thewhite, pink, brown or popcorn noise signals in proportion to a sensedpitching motion of the object. In addition, if the inertia processor 2is configured to operate using display signals, the display signals maybe displayed as display elements which have a variation in a displaycharacteristic corresponding to the sensed motion of the object. Thedisplay elements may include, for example, red, green, and blue colorsused in a conventional video display. The red, green and blue colors arealtered in proportion to the sensed motion of the object. Finally, ifthe inertia processor 2 is configured to operate using audio tonesignals, the audio tone signals may have a variation in time intervalsbetween successive audio tones based on the sensed motion of the object.

39. The sensory signals sensed by the inertia processor 2 are presentedto the user 42 using, for example, the transmitter 30 and receiver 44.The receiver 44 may be, for example, a pocket-sized receiver, in orderto receive the sensed sensory signals 33. The receiver 44 also includes,for example, an earphone 46 so the user may listen to the correspondingsensory signals. The user 42 then uses the sensory signals 33transmitted by the transmitter 30, without conscious volition, toresolve a conflict between the vestibular, ocular, and propreoceptiveinputs, thereby relieving a sense of motion sickness.

40. In addition, it should be noted that FIG. 1 illustrates the sensedsensory signals being presented to the user 42 with a transmitter 30 andreceiver 44. However, it is also possible to present the sensory signalssensed by the inertia processor 2 directly to the user 42 by using anearphone, for example, connected to the inertia processor 2. That is,the use of a separate transmitter 30 and receiver 44 is not required.

41.FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the components contained withinthe inertia processor 2. As shown, the inertia processor 2 includes anaccelerometer 51, a first inclinometer 53, a second inclinometer 55, asensory converter 57, an audio processor 59, a video processor 61, awhite, pink, brown or popcorn noise processor 63, and optionally aproximity sensor 65.

42. The accelerometer 51, and inclinometers 53 and 55 may be those whichare commercially available. The accelerometer 51 senses a verticalmotion of an object, the first inclinometer 53 senses a yaw motion ofthe object, and the second inclinometer 55 senses a pitching motion ofthe object. The sensory converter 57 converts this sensed motion tocorresponding sensory signals for presentation to the user. The audioprocessor 59 communicates the sensory signals as audio signals or audiotones to the transmitter 30. Similarly, the video processor 61 and noiseprocessor 63 communicate the sensory signals as video signals and white,pink, brown or popcorn noise signals, respectively, to the transmitter30. In addition, the inertia processor 2 may include an additionalaccelerometer and a third and fourth inclinometer so that the inertiaprocessor may detect a motion in at least one of six degrees of freedom.The inclinometers and accelerometers function as a sensor which detect amotion of the object. Further, the inertia processor 2 may optionallyinclude a proximity sensor 65. The proximity sensor 65 determinesrelative locations of other objects with respect to the inertiaprocessor 2 (e.g., by using lasers, or capacitive sensor systems). Thus,a blind person may wear the inertia processor 2 including the proximitysensor 65 and receive audio signals corresponding to the determinedrelative position of other objects. This feature is shown in FIG. 10 andwill be discussed later.

43.FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional axis with respect to theinertia processor 2 shown in FIG. 2. The accelerometer 51 senses avertical motion of the object along the vertical axis, designated as thez-axis. The inclinometers 53 and 55 detect inclination changes (i.e.,pitching and yawing motions) about the horizontal plane designated asthe x-axis and y-axis, respectively.

44.FIG. 4A illustrates audio signals in response to motion sensed by theinertia processor 2. As shown, the inertia processor 2 generates threedifferent audio signals which individually change in frequency inresponse to a sensed motion. The z-axis frequency tone 50, which may becentered at 250 Hz, for example, increases in frequency when a positivez-axis motion is sensed and decreases in frequency in response to anegative z-axis sensed motion. The z-axis vertical tone 50 shown in FIG.4A is at 200 Hz, which represents a decrease of 50 Hz from the centerfrequency. That is, a negative z-axis motion was sensed by theaccelerometer 51. The y-axis frequency tone 52, centered at 500 Hz, forexample, increases in frequency when the instrument is tilted clockwise(when viewed from the front of the device) about the y-axis. This isreferred to as a yaw to the right. In addition, the y-axis frequencytone 52 decreases in frequency when the instrument is tiltedcounter-clockwise about the y-axis, referred to as a yaw to the left.The y-axis frequency tone 52 shown in FIG. 4A is at 600 Hz, whichrepresents an increase of 100 Hz from the center frequency. That is, ayaw to the right was sensed by the inclinometer 53. The x-axis frequencytone 54, centered at 2 KHz, for example, increases in frequency when theinstrument is tilted forward, referred to as a forward pitch, anddecreases in frequency when the instrument is tilted backwards, referredto as a rearward pitch. Thus, as shown, the x-axis frequency tone 54 hasnot changed, which indicates the second inclinometer 55 did not detect apitching motion. In addition, the changes to the tone frequencies areproportional to the sensed motion, that is, the greater the sensedmotion, the greater the tone change. However, the proportionalrelationship is not necessarily linear and may be empiricallydetermined. The representation of the center tone frequencies of 250 Hz,500 Hz, and 2 KHz are for illustration purposes only and other valuesmay be used.

45. For example, FIG. 4B illustrates the z-axis frequency tone 50, they-axis frequency tone 52, and the x-axis frequency tone 54 centered atfrequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz, respectively. The frequency tonesincrease and decrease in response to a sensed motion, as described inreference to FIG. 4A. Through experimentation, it has been determinedthat the human ear is particularly sensitive to frequencies around 1000Hz. Further, it has been determined that the y-axis yaw motion isparticularly critical in causing motion sickness. Therefore, in FIG. 4B,the y-axis frequency tone 52 (i.e., y-axis yaw motion) is centered at1000 Hz.

46. Further, FIGS. 4A and 4B correspond to motion sensed in threedegrees of freedom. As discussed above, the inertia processor 2 maydetect motion in at least six degrees of freedom. Thus, if six degreesof freedom were sensed, it is possible to represent this by six tonesrather than three tones.

47.FIG. 5A is similar to FIG. 4A but illustrates a white noise frequencyspectrum in response to motion sensed by the inertia processor 2. Inaddition, as discussed above, pink, brown or popcorn noise signals mayalso be used. As shown, the spectral component of the white noisefrequency spectrum is divided into three frequency ranges. The whitenoise frequency spectrum includes a z-axis vertical frequency range 60,a y-axis yaw frequency range 62, and an x-axis pitch frequency range 64.The amplitude of these frequency ranges are altered by the inertiaprocessor 2 in response to the sensed motion. A positive z-axissensation decreases the amplitude of the z-axis vertical frequency range60. A negative z-axis sensation increases the amplitude of the z-axisvertical frequency range 60. A yaw to the right decreases the amplitudeof the y-axis yaw frequency range 62 and a yaw to the left increases theamplitude of this range. Similarly, a forward pitch results in adecrease of the amplitude of the x-axis pitch frequency range 64 and arearward pitch results in an increase in amplitude of this frequencyrange. In addition, the changes to the amplitudes of the frequencyranges of the white noise are proportional to sensed motion, that is,the greater the sensation, the greater the spectral amplitude change.Again, the proportional relationship is not necessarily linear.

48.FIG. 5A illustrates the z-axis vertical frequency range 60, y-axisyaw frequency range 62, and x-axis pitch frequency range 64 centered at200 Hz, 600 Hz, and 2 KHz, respectively. However, these ranges may becentered at other frequencies. For example, FIG. 5B illustrates thez-axis vertical frequency range 60, the y-axis yaw frequency range 62,and the x-axis pitch frequency range 64 centered at frequencies of 500Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz, respectively. The amplitude of these frequencyranges are altered by the inertia processor 2 in response to a sensedmotion, as described in reference to FIG. 5A. Further, the y-axis yawfrequency range 62 is centered at 1000 Hz for similar reasons as thatdiscussed in reference to FIG. 4B. That is, the yaw motion isparticularly critical in causing motion sickness and the human ear isparticularly sensitive to frequencies around 1000 Hz.

49.FIG. 5C is yet another graph illustrating frequency ranges of a whitenoise signal corresponding to vertical, yaw, and pitch motions sensed bythe inertia processor shown in FIG. 3. In particular, FIG. 5C is similarto FIGS. 5A and 5B except that a center frequency of the z-axis verticalfrequency range 60, y-axis yaw frequency range 62, and x-axis pitchfrequency range 64 shift in response to a sensed motion. That is, thecenter frequency of the z-axis vertical frequency range 60 (e.g.,centered at 500 Hz) increases in frequency when a positive z-axis motionis sensed and decreases in frequency in response to a negative z-axissensed motion. The z-axis vertical frequency range 61 (illustrated by adotted line) represents that the z-axis vertical frequency range 60 hasbeen shifted from a center frequency of 500 Hz to a center frequency of600 Hz. This shift indicates the inertia processor 2 sensed a positivez-axis motion. That is, a positive z-axis motion was sensed by theaccelerometer 51. The center frequency of the y-axis yaw frequency range62 (e.g., centered at 1000 Hz) increases in frequency when the inertiaprocessor 2 is tilted clockwise (when viewed from the front of thedevice) about the y-axis (i.e., yaw to the right). In addition, thecenter frequency of the y-axis yaw frequency range 62 decreases infrequency when the inertia processor 2 is tilted counter-clockwise aboutthe y-axis (i.e., yaw to the left). The y-axis yaw frequency range 62shown in FIG. 5C is centered at 1000 Hz, which represents a yaw to theright, was not sensed by the inclinometer 53 (i.e., the frequency rangedid not shift). The center frequency of the x-axis pitch frequency tone64 (e.g., centered at 2 KHz) increases in frequency when the instrumentis tilted forward, referred to as a forward pitch, and decreases infrequency when the instrument is tilted backwards, referred to as arearward pitch. Thus, as shown, the x-axis pitch frequency range 64 hasnot changed, which indicates the second inclinometer 55 did not detect apitching motion. In addition, the changes to the frequencies ranges areproportional to the sensed motion, that is, the greater the sensedmotion, the greater the change of the frequency range. The sound level(i.e., amplitude) of each frequency range may also be adjusted asdescribed in reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

50.FIG. 5D is still another graph illustrating a variation of frequencyranges of a white noise signal corresponding to vertical, yaw and pitchmotions sensed by the inertia processor 2. FIG. 5D is similar to FIGS.5B and 5C, but a bandwidth of the z-axis vertical frequency range 60,y-axis yaw frequency range 62, and x-axis pitch frequency range 64 alsoshift in response to a sensed motion. That is, based on a detectionmotion, the bandwidth may increase or decrease. Thus, for the case ofFIG. 5D, the variation in spectral emphasis includes a variation in abandwidth, a center frequency, and an amplitude of a first range of thesensory signals. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5D, when theinertia processor 2 senses z-axis vertical data indicating a steadystate (i.e., normally level) motion, the bandwidth of the z-axisvertical frequency range 60 is a maximum (|z|=max). When the inertiaprocessor 2 senses an increase in the z-axis vertical motion, thebandwidth of the z-axis vertical frequency range 60 decreases (|z|<max).The decrease in the bandwidth of the z-axis vertical frequency range isillustrated as a z-axis vertical frequency range 61. Therefore, FIG. 5Dillustrates an example of adjusting a bandwidth, a center frequency, anda sound level of the z-axis vertical frequency range 60. Likewise, they-axis yaw vertical range 62 and the x-axis pitch vertical range 64 maybe adjusted.

51. Further, the bandwidth of the frequency ranges may be selecteddifferent than that shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D. In addition,FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D correspond to motion sensed in three degrees offreedom. However, as discussed above, the inertia processor 2 may detectmotion in at least six degrees of freedom, and accordingly it ispossible to represent these six degrees of freedom by using sixfrequency ranges of the white noise signal. Further, pink, brown andpopcorn noise signals may be used rather than white noise signals.

52. To operate the device of the present invention, the inertiaprocessor 2 may be mounted or placed on a level (normally level) surfaceof an object and connected to the transmitter 30. One example of usingthe device of the present invention is that shown in FIG. 6. As shown,the inertia processor 2, battery 18, and transmitter 30 are mountedsecurely in a bow of a boat 70. When the boat 70 moves, the inertiaprocessor 2 senses this motion and converts the sensed motion intocorresponding sensory signals. The sensory signals 33 are thentransmitted to the receiver 44 which is attached to the user 42. Theuser 42 hears the sensory signals 33 using, for example, an earphone 46.Thus, the user will, without conscious volition, utilize this accuratenew data stream to resolve the conflict between the various ocular,vestibular and proprioceptive inputs via the principle of indeterminacy.The sensory signals 33 may be audio, display, white noise, pink noise,brown noise, popcorn noise, audio tones or any combination thereof. Anexample of using display signals is shown in FIG. 9 and will bedescribed later. Further, an example of using audio tones is shown inFIGS. 11A-11C and also will be described later.

53.FIG. 7 illustrates another use of the device according to the presentinvention. In this example, the inertia processor 2, battery 18,transmitter 30, and receiver 44 are contained in a single common housing80. The inertia processor 2 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2, butincludes only the first inclinometer 53 and second inclinometer 55,which detect yaw and pitch motions, respectively (i.e., theaccelerometer 51 is not included). Thus, the inertia processor 2contained in the common housing 80 senses changes in the individual'smotion (i.e., y-axis yaw and x-axis pitch motions), converts this sensedmotion to corresponding sensory signals, and presents the sensorysignals to the user. Further, the device may be placed at various pointson the body to accurately reflect positional changes, such as aplurality of sensors placed along the individual's spine.

54.FIG. 8 illustrates yet another example in which the device of thepresent invention may be used. In this example, the inertia processor 2,battery 18, transmitter 30, and receiver 44 are included in a headset sothat the movement of the head is sensed rather than the movement of thebody. The inertia processor 2 is similar to that discussed for FIG. 7and senses motion in 2 axes (i.e., yaw and pitch). This illustration isparticular useful for individuals which have severe balancing problems.In fact, some individuals with a severe vestibular imbalance becomenauseated at the slightest movement of their head. This device canassist that individual in reconciling the conflicts between receivedvestibular and ocular data.

55.FIG. 9 illustrates another example in which the device may be used.In this example, the inertia processor 2 senses the motion of an objectand converts this sensed motion into first, second and third displaysignals to be displayed as corresponding first, second and thirddisplayed elements on a video display 90. The converted display signalscorresponding to the sensed motion is output to, for example, aprojection camera 91 via the audio jack of the inertia processor 2. Theprojection camera 91 projects the display signals as correspondingdisplayed elements to the video display 90, which a single user ormultiple users may be viewing while being aboard, for example, a ship.The displayed elements may be a variety of colors, each colorcorresponding to a particular sensed motion. For example, the red,green, and blue colors in a conventional color scheme may correspond toa sensed vertical, yawing, and pitching motion of the object, with theselected colors varying in a display characteristic in proportion to thesensed motion. For example, the red (R) displayed element 93, green (G)displayed element 94, and blue (B) displayed element 95 shown in FIG. 9may vary, for example, in at least one of intensity, pattern, size, andshade of color based on the respective sensed vertical, yawing, andpitching motion of the object. The displayed elements 93, 94 and 95 areillustrated in FIG. 9 as circles. However, the displayed elements 93, 94and 95 may be any symbol, such as a star-shaped symbol, a square-shapedsymbol, etc. As shown, the blue (B) displayed element 95 has decreasedin size based on a sensed vertical motion (for example, due to anegative pitching motion of the ship). Another example of presentingdisplay signals, which have been converted from sensed motions by theinertia processor, may be achieved by displaying a column of displayelements on a left portion of a video display and a row of displayelements on a bottom portion of the video display. The column ofdisplayed elements may appear to the viewer as moving vertically ineither direction, and the row of displayed elements may appear as movinghorizontally in either direction. The column of displayed elements maycorrespond to the sensed vertical motion and the row of displayedelements may correspond to the sensed yawing motion. The speed anddirection that the displayed elements move is based on the sensed motionof the ship. In addition, for the sensed pitching motion, a displayedelement which includes a circle with a dot in the center may bedisplayed in a middle portion of the video display. In this case, thecircle may become larger or smaller based on a sensed pitching motion ofthe stem of the boat, whereas the dot in the center may move up or down,for example, based on a sensed pitching motion of the bow of the boat.

56. Thus, the individual user or multiple users viewing the display, canuse the displayed elements to reconcile a conflict between thevestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs, thus reducing thelikelihood of motion sickness. Similarly, a displayed elementrepresenting an actual ship, for example, as in a view directly forwardfrom the bow will also accomplish this same conflict resolution.

57.FIG. 10 illustrates another example in which the device of thepresent invention may be used. In this example, the device is used toassist a blind person. Essentially, if one closes their eyes and walksaround a room, it is not particularly difficult to maintain a verticalposition. Their proprioceptive receptors and to some extent theirvestibular receptors may be termed an experimental data base, whichallows them to understand where they are relative at least to an uprightposition. But if an individual has been blind since birth, they wouldnot have access to this experimental data base. The device according tothe present invention is used to expand this data base. By verifyingwhere an individual's body is relative to the ground and other objects,the individual in question could move about with more confidence. Thus,by using the proximity sensor 65 (shown in FIG. 2), the individual willhave an added ability to assert their position relative to otherobjects.

58. In more detail, FIG. 10 illustrates a room 100 in which a blindperson (not shown) is wearing the inertia processor 2 included in thecommon housing 80 shown in FIG. 7, for example. Also shown are objects102 and 104 which may be furniture, another person, etc. Thus, as theindividual walks about the room, the proximity sensor 65 transmits, forexample, laser signals 106. The laser signals 106 are then reflected offthe objects 102 and 104. For example, as shown, a reflected signal 108is reflected off the object 102. The inertia processor 2 receives thisreflected signal 108 and converts it to sensory signals. The sensorysignals have a spectral emphasis which varies in proportion to thedistance of the sensed objects relative to the blind individual. Forexample, if the object 102 is very close, a high pitch tone may begenerated, whereas if the object 102 in far away, and low pitch tone maybe used. The variation in spectral emphasis includes, but is not limitedto, a variation in a bandwidth, a center frequency, and an amplitude ofa first range of the sensory signals.

59.FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate audio tone signals in response torespectively sensed vertical, yaw and pitch motions of an object. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 11A, the audio tones shown in portion A have atime interval t₁. Further, the portion B does not contain audio tonesand thus the user would not hear any audio tones. The portion C includesaudio tones which are separated by a time interval t₂. The audio tonesignals shown in portion A may be 500 Hz and the audio tone signal shownin portion C may be 550 Hz, for example. The audio tone signals inportion A correspond to a negative detected z-axis vertical motion andthe tone signals shown in portion C correspond to a positive detectedz-axis vertical motion. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11A, the user hears thetone signals in portion A separated by time intervals t₁ which is due toa negative z-axis vertical detected motion. Then as the object achievesa substantially stable position, the user will hear silence which isillustrated as portion B in the figure. That is, the tone signals onlyoccur when a motion of the object is sensed by the inertia processor 2.Thus, if the object is not moving, the user will not be inundated withtone signals. Further, the tone signals in portion C, which correspondto a positive detected z-axis vertical sense motion, have a smaller timeinterval t₂ than the tone signals in portion A (time intervals t₁). Thetone signals in portion C have a shorter time interval based on a largerdegree of the detected z-axis vertical motion. For example, if a largez-axis vertical motion is detected, the time interval t₂ is made shorterso that the user will hear more tone signals than if a smaller z-axisvertical motion is detected. Alternatively, the time intervals may beset to be opposite of that discussed above. That is, the tone signalsmay be set so that the interval therebetween is larger based on a largersensed motion.

60.FIGS. 11B and 11C are similar to FIG. 11A but correspond to y-axisyaw sensed motion and x-axis pitch sensed motion. The tone signals shownin portion D of FIG. 11B may be 1,000 Hz and are separated by a timeinterval t₃. The tone signals shown in portion E may be 1,100 Hz areseparated by a time interval t₄. The audio tone signals shown in portionF of FIG. 11C may be 2,000 Hz and are separated by a time interval t₅.Obviously, alternative frequencies and time intervals can be used forthe audio tones. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, as the motion of theobject is detected, a plurality of audio tones are intermittentlysupplied to the user based on the sensed motion of the object.

61. In addition, it is to be understood that the audio tones may also beaudio messages, such as words. For example, the audio tones may bewords, such as “left, left, left . . . right, right, right” that arepresented to the user based on the sensed motion of the object. Theinterval between the words may also vary as that described for the audiotones.

62. A method of relieving motion sickness will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The inertia processor 2 is used forsensing a motion of an object and for converting the sensed motion tocorresponding sensory signals. As discussed above, the audio, whitenoise, pink noise, brown noise and popcorn noise sensory signals have avariation in spectral emphasis in proportion to the sensed motion. Inaddition, the display signals have a variation in a displaycharacteristic and the audio tone signals have a variation in timeintervals between successive audio tones based on the sensed motion ofthe object. Further, the method of converting includes presenting thesensory signals using, for example, the transmitter 33 and the receiver44. In one example, the method of converting includes varying afrequency of a first signal within a first predetermined range around afirst center frequency in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of theobject, and varying a frequency of a second signal within a secondpredetermined range around a second center frequency in proportion to asensed yawing motion of the object. In another example, the method ofconverting includes varying a spectral emphasis of a first frequencyrange of white, pink, brown or popcorn noise signals in proportion to asensed pitching motion of the object, and varying a spectral emphasis ofsecond frequency range of the white, pink, brown or popcorn noisesignals in proportion to a sensed yawing motion of the object. Thevariation in spectral emphasis includes, but is not limited to, avariation in a bandwidth, a center frequency, and an amplitude of afirst range of the sensory signals. In addition, the method ofconverting also includes generating display elements which correspond tothe sensed sensory signals. For the case of display signals, the displaysignals vary in a display characteristic in proportion to the sensedmotion of the object. The method of converting also includes generatingaudio tone signals which correspond to the sensed sensory signals. Forthe case of the audio tone signals, the audio tone signals have avariation in time intervals between successive audio tones based on thesensed motion of the object.

63. Further, the present inventor has determined that low frequencyhorizontal movements appear to be most related to motion sickness. Byproviding a device which includes a sensor to detect these movements,and a sensory converter coupled to the sensor, as discussed above, thepresent invention reduces the effect of motion sickness.

64. Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent inthe United States is:
 1. An apparatus for relieving motion sickness,comprising: at least one sensor which senses a motion of an object; asensory converter coupled to said sensor and configured to convert saidsensed motion to corresponding sensory signals having a variation inspectral emphasis in proportion to said sensed motion, comprising: afirst mechanism configured to vary said spectral emphasis including atleast one of 1) a bandwidth and 2) a center frequency of a firstfrequency range of said sensory signals in proportion to a sensedpitching motion of said object, and a second mechanism configured tovary said spectral emphasis including at least one of 1) a bandwidth and2) a center frequency of a second frequency range of said sensorysignals in proportion to a sensed yawing motion of said object; and apresentation mechanism configured to present said sensory signals to auser.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said firstmechanism varies an amplitude of said first frequency range of saidsensory signals in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of saidobject, and said second mechanism varies an amplitude of said secondfrequency range of said sensory signals in proportion to a sensed yawingmotion of said object.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , whereinsaid sensory converter further comprises: a third mechanism configuredto vary said spectral emphasis including at least one of 1) a bandwidth,2) a center frequency, and 3) an amplitude of a third frequency range ofsaid sensory signals in proportion to a sensed vertical motion of saidobject.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensoryconverter further comprises: a third mechanism configured to generate atleast one of 1) white noise signals, 2) pink noise signals, 3) brownnoise signals, 4) popcorn noise signals, and 5) display signals whichcorrespond to said sensory signals.
 5. The apparatus according to claim1 , wherein said first mechanism varies said center frequency of saidfirst frequency range from an initial center frequency of approximately2000 Hz, and said second mechanism varies said center frequency of saidsecond frequency range from an initial center frequency of approximately1000 Hz.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said thirdmechanism varies said center frequency of said third frequency rangefrom an initial center frequency of approximately 500 Hz.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor sensessaid motion in at least one of six degrees of freedom.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor, said sensoryconverter, and said presentation mechanism are included in a commonhousing.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein saidpresentation mechanism comprises at least one of an earphone, aheadphone, a display, and a speaker.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality ofsensors to be attached to said user.
 11. The apparatus according toclaim 1 , further comprising: a proximity sensor coupled to said sensoryconverter and configured to detect a relative location of other objects.12. An apparatus for relieving motion sickness, comprising: at least onesensor which senses a motion of an object; a sensory converter coupledto said sensor and configured to convert said sensed motion tocorresponding sensory signals, said sensory signals having a variationin spectral emphasis in proportion to said sensed motion, comprising: afirst mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a first signal withina first frequency range in proportion to a sensed pitching motion ofsaid object, said first frequency range having a center frequency ofapproximately 2000 Hz, and a second mechanism configured to vary afrequency of a second signal within a second frequency range inproportion to a sensed yawing motion of said object, said secondfrequency range having a center frequency of approximately 1000 Hz; anda presentation mechanism configured to present said sensory signals to auser.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said sensoryconverter further comprises: a third mechanism configured to vary afrequency of a third signal within a third frequency range in proportionto a sensed vertical motion of said object, said third frequency rangehaving a center frequency of approximately 500 Hz.
 14. An apparatus forrelieving motion sickness, comprising: at least one sensor which sensesa motion of an object; a sensory converter coupled to said sensor andconfigured to convert said sensed motion to corresponding sensorysignals, said sensory signals having a variation in spectral emphasis inproportion to said sensed motion, comprising: a first mechanismconfigured to vary a spectral emphasis of a first frequency range ofsaid sensory signals in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of saidobject, said first frequency range having a center frequency ofapproximately 2000 Hz, and a second mechanism configured to vary aspectral emphasis of second frequency of said sensory signals inproportion to a sensed yawing motion of said object, said secondfrequency range having a center frequency of approximately 1000 Hz; anda presentation mechanism configured to present said sensory signals to auser.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said sensoryconverter further comprises: a third mechanism configured to vary aspectral emphasis of a third frequency range of said sensory signals inproportion to a sensed vertical motion of said object, said thirdfrequency range having a center frequency of approximately 500 Hz. 16.The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein said sensory convertercomprises: a third mechanism configured to generate at least one of 1)white noise signals, 2) pink noise signals, 3) brown noise signals, 4)popcorn noise signals, and 5) display signals which correspond to saidsensory signals.
 17. A method for relieving motion sickness, comprising:sensing a motion of an object; converting said motion sensed in saidsensing step to corresponding sensory signals having a variation inspectral emphasis in proportion to said sensed motion, including:varying, in proportion to a sensed pitching motion of said object, saidspectral emphasis of said sensory signals, including varying at leastone of 1) a bandwidth and 2) a center frequency of a first frequencyrange of said sensory signals, and varying, in proportion to a sensedyawing motion of said object, said spectral emphasis of said sensorysignals including varying at least one of 1) a bandwidth and 2) a centerfrequency of a second frequency range of said sensory signals; andpresenting said sensory signals to a user.
 18. The method according toclaim 17 , wherein said converting step further comprises: varying, inproportion to the sensed pitching motion of said object, an amplitude ofsaid first frequency range of said sensory signals; and varying, inproportion to the sensed yawing motion of said object, an amplitude ofsaid second frequency range of said sensory signals.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17 , wherein said converting step further comprises:varying, in proportion to a sensed vertical motion of said object, saidspectral emphasis of said sensory signals, including varying at leastone of 1) a bandwidth, 2) a center frequency, and 3) an amplitude of athird frequency range of said sensory signals.
 20. The method accordingto claim 17 , wherein said sensing step senses said motion in at leastone of six degrees of freedom.
 21. The method according to claim 17 ,wherein said presenting step comprises: using at least one of anearphone, a headphone, a speaker, and a display to present said sensorysignals.
 22. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said convertingstep further comprises: generating at least one of 1) white noisesignals, 2) pink noise signals, 3) brown noise signals, 4) popcorn noisesignals, and 5) display signals which correspond to said sensorysignals.
 23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein said convertingstep further comprises: varying, in proportion to said sensed pitchingmotion of said object, said center frequency of said first frequencyrange from an initial center frequency of approximately 2000 Hz; andvarying, in proportion to said sensed yawing motion, said centerfrequency of said second frequency range from an initial centerfrequency of approximately 1000 Hz.
 24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said converting step further comprises: varying, in proportionto said sensed vertical motion of said object, said center frequency ofsaid third frequency range from an initial center frequency ofapproximately 500 Hz.
 25. An apparatus for relieving motion sickness,comprising: at least one sensor which senses vertical, yawing andpitching motions of an object; a sensory converter coupled to saidsensor and configured to convert the sensed vertical, yawing andpitching motions of the object to corresponding first, second and thirddisplay signals, which respectively vary in a display characteristic inproportion to the sensed vertical, yawing, and pitching motions of theobject; and a presentation mechanism configured to present the first,second and third display signals as corresponding first, second andthird displayed elements.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 25 ,wherein the sensory converter includes a mechanism configured to varythe first, second and third display signals so that the respectivefirst, second and third displayed elements vary in at least one of 1) acolor, 2) a shape, 3) a size, 4) an intensity, and 5) a display positionin proportion to the respectively sensed vertical, yawing, and pitchingmotions of the object.
 27. The apparatus according to claim 25 , whereinthe first, second, and third display signals comprise red, green, andblue displayed elements.
 28. A method for relieving motion sickness,comprising: sensing vertical, yawing and pitching motions of an object;converting the sensed vertical, yawing and pitching motions of theobject to corresponding first, second and third display signals, whichrespectively vary in a display characteristic in proportion to thesensed vertical, yawing, and pitching motions of the object; andpresenting the first, second and third display signals as correspondingfirst, second and third displayed elements.
 29. The method according toclaim 28 , wherein the converting step includes varying the first,second and third display signals so that the corresponding first, secondand third displayed elements vary in at least one of 1) a color, 2) ashape, 3) a size, 4) an intensity, and 5) a display position inproportion to the respectively sensed vertical, yawing, and pitchingmotions of the object.
 30. The method according to claim 28 , whereinthe presenting step presents the first, second, and third displaysignals at corresponding red, green, and blue displayed elements.
 31. Anapparatus for relieving motion sickness, comprising: at least one sensorwhich senses vertical, yawing and pitching motions of an object; asensory converter coupled to said sensor and configured to convert thesensed vertical, yawing and pitching motions of the object tocorresponding first, second and third audio tone signals havingrespective first, second and third time intervals between successiveaudio tone signals which vary in proportion to the respectively sensedvertical, yawing, and pitching motions of the object; and a presentationmechanism configured to present the first, second and third audio tonesignals.
 32. The apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the sensoryconverter varies the first, second and third time intervals to decreasein time based on a respectively sensed positive vertical, yawing andpitching motion of the object, and varies the first, second and thirdtime intervals to increase in time based on a respectively sensednegative vertical, yawing and pitching motion of the object.
 33. Theapparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the audio tone signalscomprise audio messages.
 34. A method for relieving motion sickness,comprising: sensing vertical, yawing and pitching motions of an object;converting the sensed vertical, yawing and pitching motions of theobject to corresponding first, second and third audio tone signalshaving respective first, second and third time intervals; varying thefirst, second and third time intervals in proportion to the respectivelysensed vertical, yawing, and pitching motions of the object; andpresenting the first, second and third audio tone signals.
 35. Themethod according to claim 34 , wherein the varying step varies thefirst, second and third time intervals to decrease in time based on arespectively sensed positive vertical, yawing and pitching motion of theobject, and varies the first, second and third time intervals toincrease in time based on a respectively sensed negative vertical,yawing and pitching motion of the object.
 36. The method according toclaim 34 , wherein the audio tone signals include audio messages.